Tool that measures the ability of your muscle pump which means the ability of your calf muscles to pump blood out of your veins.

Aneurysm of the Vein

The definition is a ballooning of the vein at greater than 1.5x the diameter of the adjacent veins. Aneurysms can be benign and cause no problems or they can be the source of a clot that can travel to the lungs (pulmonary embolus). The treatment depends on the location and the nearby anatomy. -- Aneurysms of the superficial venous system: classification and treatment

The venous duplex examination permits your vein specialist to see the anatomy and check the flow characteristics of the veins beneath your skin. Useful information is gathered that your doctor can use to adequately diagnose your specific vein problem and to plan and guide treatment.

The frontal veins occur in pairs in the anterior medial region of the forehead. It often becomes enlarged especially after facial plastic surgery. (Also known as supratrochlear veins) -- Also called: supratrochlear veins

The GSV courses from the groin to the ankle on the inner aspect of the leg. The GSV is responsible for most visible bulging veins in the thigh and inner aspect of the calf. All veins have valves, and if the valve does not work right, then bulging varicosities occur through the branches of the GSV.

High Ligation

Refers to the process of dividing the saphenous vein in the groin when the patient has saphenous insufficiency. In the United States, this procedure is being rapidly replaced with thermal ablation.

A device using a small needle that transmits heat to cauterize small red spider veins. -- VeinGogh

Partibial Perforator

Also known as Boyd's and Sherman's perforators. These veins connect the saphenous vein to either the posterior tibial vein or the popliteal vein. -- Also called: Boyd's perforators, Sherman's perforators

Pelvic Congestion Syndrome

Refers to pain in the pelvic region related to dilated uterine and/or ovarian veins. May also be associated with vulvar varicosities.

Perforator veins connect the superficial system to the deep system. These veins normally drain blood from the superficial veins to the deep veins as part of the process of returning oxygen-depleted blood to the heart.

Phlebitis

Inflammation of the vein wall which may lead to clot formation.

Polidocanol

Asclera (polidocanol injection) is a sclerosant used to treat spider veins.

Popliteal Vein

Refers to the main draining vein of the leg located behind the knee. The popliteal vein becomes the femoral vein in the lower thigh.

Posterior Tibial Perforator (Cockett's)

Communication between the posterior tibial vein and the posterior saphenous. It may be related to venous ulcers or spider veins around the ankle.

Radio Frequency

Any type of device that produces heat from electricity and it is used to treat large and small veins.

Recanalization

Refers to the formation of a new lumen after treatment of veins with heat ablation.

The area under the squamous layer of skin where most spider veins are located 0.3 mm to 0.8 mm below the skin level.

Reticular Vein

The bluish/greenish veins are close to the skin surface. They are usually visible and everyone has them. When there is increased transmitted venous pressure, reticular veins sometimes will dilate or be associated with spider veins.

Sapheon Glue

A recently approved modality that uses a bio-compatible to seal the saphenous vein not yet reimbursed by insurance companies.

Sclerosant

A term used for the solution used to do sclerotherapy for spider veins. FDA approved solutions are Sotradecol & Polidocanol. Other solutions doctors might use are glycerin and solutions that contain dextrose. Saline is rarely used since the effectiveness is low and it causes pain.

(SSV) The small saphenous vein is located in the back of the leg. The vein starts at the crease in the knee and runs down the back of the calf and angles to the outside of the foot. This vein is responsible for varicose veins in 10% of patients. Varicose veins are located on the back of the calf or thigh. The vein empties into a deep vein called 'popliteal'. The popliteal vein is the main deep vein in the knee area. -- Also called: Short Saphenous Vein, Lesser Saphenous Vein

An ultrasound uses sound waves that are emitted through a hand-held probe placed on the skin. Gel is used for better skin contact and this helps eliminate air that may interfere with the transmission of the sound waves. The sound waves pass through the tissues beneath the probe and are bounced back from the veins. Venous specialists use ultrasound to diagnose and treat venous disease of the lower legs. By doing an ultrasound, your doctor can get valuable information such as the size and location of your veins and the direction of blood flow within the veins. The information from the ultrasound examination is necessary in order to plan appropriate treatment.

Valve

This is a thin tissue in the lumen of the vein itself. When working properly, the valve prevents blood from leaking back down the vein the wrong way. Valves may not work right due to hereditary or previous clots.